Stiffening devices for maintaining the creases in trousers



Nov. 20, 1934. s R DODWGTON 1,981,784

STIFFENING DEVICES FOR MAINTAINING THE CREASES IN TROUSERS Filed Oct. 19, 1933 trouser around the Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES 'STIFFENING DEVICES FOR MAINTAINING THE CREASES mvrnonsnns Samuel Percival Dodington, Cardiff, Wales Application October 19, 1933, Serial No! 694.290 In GreatBritain Octobe 24 I,

4 Claims; ('01. 2-231) This invention relates to improvements in stiffeners for maintaining the creases in trousers, and is particularly concerned with'devices of the kind adapted for attachment to the bottom of the trouser legs, the object being to provide an im-,- proved device'of simple and cheap construction.

According to this invention, a stiffener is inserted inside the trouser leg along the crease, and the trouser parts on each side of the crease are brought closely together against the stiffener by means of a suitable fastener or clip so as to maintain a sharp and well-defined crease. In the case of trousers with a permanent turn-up the stiffener may be a blade or it may be inthe form of a fiat p blade part having diverging wings for engagement with the inside of the trousers on each side of the crease. The clip may be received in the gutter formed by the permanent turn-up so as to be concealed from view and it grips the trousers around the stifiener for holding the latter in position.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood reference will be made to the accompanying drawing illustrating various examples of construction for carrying the invention into effect, in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the improved device to trousers having a permanent turn-up.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the bottom of the trouser leg and the device shown in Figure 1, and illustrates also the use of canvas bands for improving the hang of the trousers.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of modified constructions of clip for insertion in the gutter of trousers having a permanent turn up.

Figures 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, l0 and 11 are perspective views of modified constructions of clips and stiffeners showing the parts disassembled, the stiffeners being for insertion inside the trouser leg and the clips being received in the gutters of trousers having a permanent turn-up, in the manner indicated in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a stiffener blade a, which may be made of bone, steel, or other flexible material, is placed. inside the trouser leg along the crease. The blade at is held in position by means of a clip I) received in the gutter 0 formed by the permanent turn-up at so that the clip grips the stiffener blade at. Thus in addition to securing the stifiener, the front edge of the clip 13 assists in preserving the crease in the turn-up. A stifiener blade and clip may be provided at the backas well as the front crease, as shown in Figure 2. The clip 13 may be formed from a narrow strip of metal which is or just sufficient breadth to grip the trouser leg around the 'stifiener a. The inturnededges e of the clip arms may also grip bands 7 of'canvas or other suitable material which are inserted within the gutter c for improving the hang of the trousers. Two such bands may beprovided, one extending from the front to the back on each side of the trouser leg. A small upwardly directed pointed hook b may be'provided on the front of the clip I) to engage the turn-up,'for keeping 'the-turn-up in correct position relative to the trouser leg and also for preventing the clip from riding up in the turn-up.- v

The clip I) is approximately the same length as the turn-up so that it can be concealed from view within the turn-up." Ifdesir'ed the upper'ends of the cliparms may be sloped downwards as'at'gi Figure 1, for obivating any risk of the clip being observed. The top of the turn-up may also be sewn to the trouser leg for the same purpose. The stiffener blade a is preferably somewhat longer than the clip I), sothat it extends above the turnup for maintaining an extended length of crease. In this case the upper end of the blade a may be formed with a small hole a to enable the blade to be attached by sewing to the trouser leg.

According to Figure 3, the clip h is provided with inwardly bent teeth or nibs h on one of its side arms for penetrating the material of the trouser to hold the stifiener (not shown) in position and prevent the clip riding up in the gutter.

In Figure 4 the clip comprises two hingedly mounted arms 11 i which are resiliently pressed together to grip a stiffener, by means of a spring 9' mounted on the hinge pin it. The arms 1' i may be formed with inward bulges Z to increase the grip of the clip and to hold the latter in position in the gutter of the turn-up.

In Figure 5 the stiffener m comprises a flat portion m adapted to lie along the crease and diverging wings m which engage the inside of the trouser parts on each side of the crease. The clip n is formed with a constricted part 11. and diverging wings n for clamping the trouser against the stiffener. The stiffener and the clip may be secured in position by providing the wing parts ofthe stiffener with projections or studs m which engage, through the trousers, with holes or slots 12 in the wings of the clip. A single slot may be formed in each clip and the projections on the stiffeners may be of any suitable form for engagement with such slot. The stifiener may be of the same height as the clip instead of extending above it as shown. Also the upper parts of the side wings of the stifiener may be removed.

According to Figure 6, the stiifener 0 is held in position by two clip members p 10 The member 11 is provided with pins q which pass through the material of the trouser, and holes a and p in the stiffener and the other clip member p respectively, the ends of the pins being bent over in the gutter of the turn-up.

According to Figure 7, the side wings r are connected only at their middle part, while in Figure 8, the Wings 1' are connected only at the ends. In both constructions the lower parts of the clips and blade stiiieners are provided with holes r so that they can be sewn or attached to the trouser leg.

In Figure 9 the wings s of the clip are connected only at the lower end and both wings may be indented at s to increase the grip on the stiffener and to prevent the clip from riding up in the gutter of the turn-up.

In Figure 10 the clip is provided with a flat front part if from which the upper and lower Wing parts t diverge. The clip and the stifiener blade t may be provided with aligning holes t toenable the device to be sewn to the trouser leg.

In Figure 11 the arms u of the clip are connected only at their upper ends and a member u pivoted to one or both of the arms by a rivet u is adapted to be turned from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full. lines in which it closes over the free ends of the arms so as to bring them together and thereby gripthe material of the trouser leg closely against the blade stiffener 11, inserted inside the trouser leg.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pair of trousers having permanent turn-ups, a stifiener for insertion inside each trouser leg along the crease at the bottom thereof, and a two-armed clip within the gutter formed by the permanent turn-up, said arms being adapted for bringing the trouser parts closely together against each side of said stiffener.

2. In combination with a pair of trousers having permanent turn-ups, a stiifener blade for insertion inside the trouser leg along the crease at the bottom thereof said blade being of greater length than the depth of the turn-up portion and a clip received within the gutter formed by the turn-up and having two arms adapted for bringing the trouser parts closely together against each side of said stifiener blade, said clip being shorter than the depth of the turn-up portion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a pair of trousers having permanent turn-ups, a stiffener blade for insertion inside the trouser leg along the crease at the bottom thereof, 'a clip received within the gutter formed by the permanent turn-up and having narrow arms adapted for bringing the trouser parts closely together against the said stiffener blade, and fabric bands received within the said gutter and extending from the front crease to the back crease on each side of the trouser leg, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination with a pair of trousers, a stiffener having rearwardly diverging side wings and a flat front part for insertion inside the trouser leg and lying along the crease at the bottom thereof, and a clip having a constricted front part and rearwardly divergent side wings adapted for clamping the material of the trouser against the fiat part and wings of said stiffener.

SAMUEL PERCIVAL DODINGTON. 

